Rotary engine.



H. A. MYERS.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPUCATION FILED APR. 4.1914- F. fi fio Patented June 12, 1917.

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APPLICATION FILED APR. 4. 1914.

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ROTARY ENGINE.

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ROTARY ENGINE.

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HUBERT A. MYERS, OF TOLEDO, OHIO,.ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF '10 ARTHUR S. HICKOK,

OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

ROTARY ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 12, 11917..

. To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUBERT A. MYERS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Rotary Engine; and I do hereby declare the following to be. a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates particularly to internal combustion engines of the rotary multiple cylinder type.

While the invention is particularly intended for use in connection with a fourcycle engine of this type, it is to be under stood that it is not restricted to use in such connection, nor to the use of any particular type of actuating fluid or vapor, although the engine illustrated is of the internal combustion type, taking gas or other suitable explosive mixture as a fuel; and also that the different novel features of the engine are not limited to use in the combination herein shown or in connection with any particular type of engine, but are intended for use in any connection for which they may be adapted or appropriate.

.." The primary object of my invention is the provlsion of a multiple cylinder internal combustion engine which is eflicient in its operation, light and durable in its construction, simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and economical in the, use of .fuel, thus enhancing the practicability and "commercial value of motors of this character. 7

A further object of the invention is the provision, in combination with a rotary engine of the character described, having an annular series of ports, of means which is rotatable by and relative to the rotor portion of the engine for controllin the properly timed admission of a liquid fuel or actuating fluid to and the exit of exhaust gases or vapors from the respective cylinders.

A further object of'the invention is the provision, in an engine of the character described, of means for controlling the exhaust of burnt gases therefrom, whereby the exhaust from each cylinder takes place during approximately the full exhaust stroke of the piston thereof, thus entirely exhausting the burnt gases from the cylinder before taking in a further charge and consequently securing the maximum efficiency of the charge due to its not being diluted by exhaust gases remaining in the cylinder.

A further object of my invention is the provision, in an engine of the character described, of rotatable means which serves both as a valve for controlling the inlet and exhaust of gases to and from the cylinders and to act as a pump for forcing the charges under pressure into the cylinders upon an opening of the inlet ports thereof. Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description.

The invention is fully described in the following specification, and while, in its broader aspect, it is capable of embodiment in numerous forms, a preferred and one modified form only thereof are illustrated in the drawings, in which,-

Figure 1 is a central vertical section of an engine embodying the preferred form of the invention taken on the line E-E in Fig. 2. Fig. l is av view of one of the electrodes of the engine. Fig. 2 is a. section on the line CC in Fig. 1, with parts in full. Fig. 3 is a section onythe line EE in Fig. 1. Fig. at is a section on the line DD in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a broken sectional view with different parts in section on the lines AA, BB and C-C in Fig. 1, and with two cylinders in-full with the portring removed from one. Fig. 6 is a section of a. cylinder and associated arts in exhausting position taken on the line D-D in Fig. 7 is a right hand side elevation of a cylinder together with portions of the p.ortring fixed thereto and of the rotary valve in which such ring travels. Fig. 8 is a section of a cylinder and associated parts in charge receiving position. Fig. 9 is an outer side elevation of a portion of the port-ring of the cylinders. Fig. 10 is a section thereof on the line EE in Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a section of the port-ring on the line FI v in Fig. 9. Fig. 1-2 is a reduced left hand side elevation of the motor. Fig. 13 is a face view of the timing disk of the ignition system. Fig. 14 is a sectional view of the motor in diagrammatical form illustrating the relative action of the parts. F ig. 15 is a vertical cross-section of a modified form of the motor. Fig. 16 is a partial section on the line EE in Fig. 15. Fig. 17 is a section on the line G in Fig. 15. Fig. 18 is a partial segmental section on the line H-H in Fig. 15. Fig. 19 is a central vertical section of the motor shown in Fig. 15 taken crosswise of its axis. Fig. 20 is a diagrammatical section illustrative of the action of the motor, and Figs. 21 and 22 are diagrammatic views illustrative of both forms of the invention with the first following out the working and exhaust revolution of a cylinder and the latter following out the gas intake and compression revolution of a cylinder.

In thepreferred form of my invention the motor housin had to Fig. 1 is shown as comprising the opposed sides 1 and 2, which cooperate with a laterallyprojecting peripherally-disposed flange 3 on the side 1 to form a chamber 4 in which the rotor and other parts of the motor are mounted. The side 2 is secured at its edge to the free edge of the flange 3 by screws 5, or in any other suitable manner. The housing part 13 is provided at opposite sides thereof with outwardly projecting bosses 6 (Fig. 12) for resting on any suitable frame work. Projecting within the chamber 4 from the housing side 1 substantially axially thereof is a hollow stationary shaft 7, which terminates in spaced relation to the opposite side 2 of the housing. The rotor of the engine comprises, in the present instance, the two opposing sides or hub-disks 8 and 9, and the ring 10, which rigidly connects the marginal edge portions of the hub-disks and carries the rigidly disposed radial cylinders 11 in equi-distantly spaced relation therearound. The ring 10 seats at its edges upon respective inwardly projecting annular flanges 12 of the diskhubs 8, 9and is rigidly fixed to said hubs, in the present instance, by screws 13. In the motor illustrated the cylinders 11 are five in number and the outer periphery of the ring 10 is therefore made in the form of a pentagon to provide five seats for the base portions of the cylinders, the cylinders being rigidly secured thereto by screws 14 (Fig. 2) or in any other suitable manner. The inner ends of the cylinders 11 open into the interiorof the ring 10 through registering openings 15 provided in the ring for such purpose. It is preferable to provide the cylinder with a flange 16 at its inner end for'fitting into the ring opening, as a more rigid and practical connection between the ring and cylinders-is thereby secured.

Each cylinder 11 has 'a piston lTworking (particular reference beingin Fig. 1. It will of course be understood that the piston-rods can be connected to the wrist-pin in any other suitable manner, as may be found convenient or desirable.

The wrist-pin 19 is stationary relative to the motor housing and has its crank-arms provided at their inner ends with outwardly projecting trunnions 20, one having a fixed bearingin the adjacent end of the hollow stationary shaft 7 and the other-having a loose bearing in a bearing sleeve 21, which is fitted into the inner end of an axial opening 22 in the disk-hub 90f the rotor. The trunnion 20, which projects into the station ary shaft 7, is secured against turning therein by one or more keys 23. I

The rotor is mounted forv free rotation within the chamber 4 of the housing by having its disk-hub 8 providedwith an out- Wardly projecting bearing flange or. sleeve 8 which is suitably journaled on the inner end portion of the stationary shaft 7 for free rotation thereon, while the hub-disk 9 is provided around its opening 22 with an outwardly projecting bearing flange 9 which is suitably journaled in an axial opening 24 in the housing side It is thus evident that the inner end of the stationary shaft 7 is exposed to the crank chamber of the rotor, thus enabling the adjacent trunnion 20 of the crank to be fitted into said shaft. The motor shaft-is indicated at '25, being rigidly fixed at one end within the hub-disk flange 9 in any suitable manner and projecting axially therefrom.

Bolted orotherwise suitably secured to and, in the present instance, fixedly connect ing the outer end portions of the several cylinders 11 ofthe rotor, at one side thereof,

is What ma be termed a ort-rin 28 y P g a which is provided for each cylinder with a three-way port 29 having the inlet opening 30, the exhaust opening 31 and the cylinder opening 32, which latter is continued through the wall of the respective cylinder and opens into the combustion end thereof. The port-ring 28 also forms a portion of the water circulating system, as hereinafter described, and is thereforemade hollow in ,termediate the end walls of adjacent threeway ports 29. The port-ring 28 preferably has its inner and outer sides, with, respect to the rotor axis, oppositely taperedtonarrow the ring outwardly from the cylinders and to adapt it to have a close sliding fit into the registering V-shaped -or complemental recess 33 in the outer rim portion of a rotary valve 34, said recess being of annular form and opening toward the cylinders. The provision of the V-shaped interengaging portions of the valve and portring provides a compensating wearing fit between such parts.

The rotary valve 34 is loosely mounted on the bearing flange 8 of the rotor hub-disk 8 concentric thereto, and has its web, or the portion thereof which connects its hub and outer recessed portion, hollow except for the provision, in the present instance, of three partitions 35 therein, which partitions divide the interior of the valve web into three charge chambers or passages 36 (Fig. 3). The inner ends of the passages 36 are in permanent communication with an annular chamber 8 in the hub-disk flange 8 through a plurality of outwardly opening ports 8 in said passage, and the passage 8 in turn has permanent communication with the passage 7 through the stationary shaft 7 through registering radial ports 7 in said shaft, said ports being disposed without the end of the adjacent crank trunnion 20 (see Fig. 1). The passage 7 in the shaft 7 is intended to have communication with a suitable carbureting system or other source of fuel supply. The arrangement of the ports 7 and 7 is such that the passage 8 is in permanent communication both with the supply passage 7 a in the stationary shaft 7 and with the chambers or passages 36 in the rotary valve during a rotation of the bearing flange 8' around the shaft 7' and a rotation of the valve 34 around said bearing flange. The purpose of the partitions 35 within the hollow of the valve web is to provide fan blade parts, which serve as a pump during a rotation of the valve to efiect an outward forcing of the gases by centrifugal action through'the valve outlet ports 37 and a consequent circulation through the gas supply system. The ports 37, in the present instance, are three in number, and disposed in the wall 38 which separates the chambers 36 from the recess 33 into which the portring 28 projects. To facilitate a directing of the gases which are within the chambers 36 toward the "outlet ports 37 thereof, the partitions 35 extend in a spiral manner from the bearing flange 8? to the wall 38 in a rearwardly extending direction, relative to the direction of rotation of the valve, and the port for each valve chamber 36 is disposed at the outer rear portion of its chamher, as readily understood by reference to Fig. 3.

The valve 34 is provided with an outwardly projecting hub part or flange 39, which carries a spur gear 40, said gear be ing in mesh with and driven by a spur gear present instance, below the stationary shaft;

7 and has one end suitably journaled in a removable plate 43, which removably closes an opening in the housing side 1 and forms a part of such side, while the other end of the shaft 42 is journaled in a web or partition 44 within the'housing. The shaft 42 carries a second gear .47 in mesh with a gear 48, which is fixed to the outer end portion of the rotor hub flange 8 The gearing connection between the rotary valve 34 and the rotor is such, in the case of a five cylinder motor and the arrangement of ports as shown, as to cause the rotary valve to be driven five-sixths as rapidly as the driving of the rotor, 71. e., the rotor makes six revolutions to each five revolutions of the rotary valve. An end-thrust roller bearing 49 is shown as being provided between the adjacent ends of the gear 48 and the hub flange 39 of the rotary valve. A collar 48 is mounted on the outer end of the hub flange 8 without the gear 48 and is adjustable longitudinally of such flange to act on the valve flange 39, through the medium of the gear 48 and bearing 49, which are slidable on the hub flange, to force the valve toward the rotor to compensate for wear between the parts 28 and 38, as is apparent by reference to Fig. 1. Access to the collar 48 for the purpose of adjustment may be had by removing the plate 43 from the casing opening.

In a five cylinder engine, such as, shown, the rotary valve 34 is preferably provided in its wall 38 with three equidistantly spaced ports 37, which form the outlet ports for the charges from the interior of the rotary valve and periodically register with the respective inlet ports 30 of the port-ring 28 to admit charges to respective cylinders at predetermined intervals during a running of the motor, ashereinafter more fully described. The valve is also provided in its rim portion 50, which forms the outer wall of the recess 33, with a series of equidistantly spaced exhaust ports 51 correspond.- ing in number to the ports 37 of the valve, with an exhaust port disposed at the rear of such inlet port, relative to'the direction of rotation of the valve, in approximately the relation shown in Figs. 3 and 4. These exhaust ports are intended to register with the exhaust ports 31 of the port-ring 28 at predetermined intervals during a running of the motor, as hereinafter more fully described. The combined lengths of two ports 30 and 37 of the port-ring 28 and rotary valve 34,- respectively, are preferably such, when considered in connection with the differential movements of the valve and portring, that an inlet port of the port-ring will be open to a respective chamber 36 of the valve through the port 37 for approximately one-half of a revolution of the rotor. This is also true of the exhaust ports 31 and 51 of the port-ring and valve, respectively, as it is preferable to maintain such ports in register during a complete exhaust stroke of a piston, or in other words, during approximately one-half of a revolution of the rotor, thereby permitting a complete exhaust of all burnt gases from acylinder during the exhaust stroke of its piston. Each of the inlet and exhaust ports 30 and 31 of the port-ring is preferably shorter, circumferentially of the ring, than the length of the respective ports 37 and 51 of the rotary valve, so that the inlet and exhaust passages to and from the cylinder may each be entirely opened during portions of the respective revolutions of the rotor, as indicated by the space between the lines a-b in F ig- 21 for the exhaust, and by the space between the lines a-b in Fig. 22 for the inlet, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

The port--ring 28 is provided with three sets of sparking points or electrodes 52, a set being associated with each three-way port 29 thereof, with the points of the set disposed in proper spaced relation therein to provide a jump spark Within the port when a set of electrodes is in circuit with a source of electrical supply. One electrode, the inner one in the present instance, of each set is electrically connected to the port-ring,

whereby current passes from such electrode through the metal parts of the motor to a timer device hereinafter described, and is then grounded. The other electrode of a set is insulatingly carried by the reduced edge portion of the port-ring 28 in position to receive a jump-spark from an electrode 53 when in register therewith, said electrode 53 being carried by the rotary valve 34 at the inner or reduced end of the recess 33 thereof and being one of a set of three electrodes with which the valve is provided. A single stationary electrode 54 is provided at a point in the housing where it is desired to have the explosions take place, such electrode being carried by a plug 55 that is threaded into an opening provided therefor in the housing. The electrode 54 is disposed in position for a spark to jump across the space between it and any one of the electrodes 53 when the outer end of such electrode moves into register with the stationary electrode. In order that the sparks, which jump from the electrode 54 to a registering electrode'53 and from it to theinsulated electrode of the set 52, may be of a prolonged nature the outer ends of the insulated electrode 52 and the electrode 53 are madeof arcuate form (see Fig. 1 in concentric relation to 'zhe rotor axis, so that the sparking of each set 52 will occur during a predetermined portion of a revolution of the rotor. The multiple arcing between the different electrodes of a set when in register with the stationary electrode tends to intensify the are or flash occurring between the points of the pol'tling set 52. Thestationary electrode 54 has connection without the motor with a suitable source of electrical supply, as for instance, a battery. It will be understood that the sparking means herein described and shown is merely illustrative of one form of such means, and that any other suitable ignition means may be provided as desired.

The timer for the ignition system comprises, in the present instance, a rotary disk 56, of fiber or other suitable insulating material, which is fixed to the outer end of the shaft 42 withoutthe plate 43 and carries a three-arm contact spider 57 on its outer face, this spider being of brass or other suitable electrical conductive material and having its arms radially disposed and equidistantly spaced around its axis and of approximately one-half inch in width.' A cap 58 is fitted over the disk 56 in rotatable contact at its inner edge with the plate 43, being yieldingly held in position over the timer disk by a spring fin er- 59, which is secured to the plate 43 and as its other end provided with a detent, which receives a pivot stud 60, provided axially on the outer side of the cap 58, thus yieldingly holdingthe cap in rotatable contact with the plate 43. An electric-brush 61 is insulatingly carried by the cap 58 at one side of its axis and yieldingly bears against the outer face of the timer disk 56 in position to have successive contact with the arms of the spider 57 as the timer disk is rotated.- -The current which passes through the brush 61, as it successively has contact with the arms vf the spider 57 is grounded through a ground wire (not shown), which is suitably connected to the outer end of the brush. The rotary cap 58 has a lug 62 (Fig. 12) projecting radially from one edge thereof and in connection with any suitable control means (not shown), whereby the cap may be rotated to move the brush 61 about the cap axis to efiect an advancing or a retarding of the spark, as desired;

The commencement of the exhaust in the motor illustrated takes place when the piston of a cylinder has reached the end of its outward or power stroke, or in other words, at a point which is approximately diametrically opposite the sparking point, and such exhaust continues during approximately one-half of a revolution of the cylinder or during the full exhaust stroke of the associated piston. To accommodate such exhaust the housing part 13 is provided substantially half-way around its periphery with a segmental exhaust chamber or passage 63 (Figs. 1, 3 and 4), one side edge of which is provided throughout its length with an inlet port 64: With which each of the exhaust ports 51 in the rotary valve registers during approximately one-half of its revolution. It is preferable to provide a series of spaced bailie blades or partitions 65 within the exhaust passage 63, for a desired distance therearound from the in let end thereofgsaid bafiie blades extending on an incline partly across the passage 63 from the inlet port 64 thereof. The incline of the baflie blades 65 is the reverse to the natural direction of flow of the exhaust gases through the exhaust passage 63, to tend to retard and bafiie such exhaust and also to muffle it. The exhaust striking against the bafiie blades will also tend to propel the rotor due to the resultant reaction.

The cooling system illustrated in connection with the preferred form of my motor will now be briefly described. The side 2 of the motor housing is provided in the inner side concentrically around the rotor axis with the two annular recesses or channels 66 and (57, the inner channel .66, in the present instance, having communication through an outwardly extending passage 68 with a suitable source of water supply, and the other-having an outlet passage, as at (39, connected to any suitable drainage means. The inner sideof each of the passages 66 and 67 is open and registers at a continually changing point therein, during a rotation of the rotor, with an inlet passage 70 provided in the hub disk 9 and in a radial extension 9 thereof for each cylinder, whereby each of said passages 70 is in continual register at its inner end With the supply passages 66 in the housing during a rotation of the rotor. Each passage 70 communicates at its outer end through a passage 71 in the base portion of the associated cylinder with a portion 72 of the water jacket space around the cylinder. The other channel (37 in the housing has continual communication with the other portion 73 of a cylinder water space through a passage-74 leading through a portion of the hub-disk 9 and the associated cylinder, as shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 7. The portring 28 is hollow, or has a passage 75 therein, between successive three-wayports 29, and each of. such passages is provided at one end with an inlet port 76 and at its other end with an outlet port 77. The ports 76 and 77 are disposed at opposite ends of the interposed threeway ports 29 for the respective cylinders and register with ports 78 and 79, respectively, (Fig. 5) which communicate with the water jacket spaces 72 and 73, respectively, of a cylinder. It is thus evident that the circulation of water is from the supply channel 6 in the housing through the passages 7071 and into the portion 72 of the jacket water space of a cylinder, thence outward from such portion into the associated channel 75 of the port-ring 28 through the ports 78-T(3, thence through the ring passage 7 5 in coimter-clockwise direction, or in a direction opposed to the direction of rotation of such ring, thence passing from the opposite end of such passage through the port 77 and associated cylinder port 79 into the return water space 73 of the next cylinder in order, the water then passing from the space 73 of said cylinder into the drainage passage 67 of the housing. It is thus evident that the water first passes through a portion of one cylinder water jacket and thence through the port-ring 28 and the return portion of the water jacket of the next cylinder in order before draining from the motor. The circulation of the-water in this manner is maintained by the fan action of the port-ring 28 there on. This water circulating system is only briefly described, as no claim for the same is made herein, the subjectmatter thereof being reserved for a subsequent application. It will'be evident that if it were not for the port-ring 28 forming a portion of the Water circulating system for the cylinders that such ring could be made solid between the three-way ports 29.

The operation of the preferred form'of the motor is illustrated in a diagrammatical manner in Figs. 14, 20, 21 and 22. The explosions successively take place in alternate cylinders, as for instance, as indicated by the reference numerals 1. 2, 3, l, 5 applied to the cylinders in these figures. The motor being of the four cycle type, each cylinder makes two revolutions during a cycle of op erations, a charge being drawn into a cylinder during one-half and compressed therein during the next half of one revolution and the explosion taking place at the beginning of the first half of the second revolution, the working stroke continu'ng throughout such first half of the second revolution and the exhaust taking place during approximately the entire remaining halfof the second revolution. This action is best illustrated by reference to Figs. 21 and 22, the latter being illustrative of the first revolution of a cylinder, and the former illustrative of the second revolution of a cylinder during a cycle thereof. From Fig. 22 it will be noted that a valve inlet port 37 opens to a cylinder through the cylinder port approximately at the time the longitudinal center of. the cylinder has reached the point at which the explosion took place at the previous revolution,.or at the beginning of the first revolution of a cycle of the cylinder at which position the piston is at its highest point. and that such ports remain in cou'nnunication until the piston of such cylinder has completed its suction stroke, the ports being in full open register during substantially onethird of the stroke or approximately during a movement of the cylinder axis between the radial lines a-b. The charge is then compressed in the cylinder during the next out stroke of the piston. The explosion of the compressed charge occurs at approximately the point of completion of the first revolu tion of the cylinder, and the working stroke of the piston takes place during the entire first half of the second revolution of the cylinder. lVhen the cylinder has completed the first half of its second revolution, the cylinder port will have caught up with an exhaust port 51in the valve, as noted at the bottom of Fig. 21. The exhaust then takes place throughout approximately the entire exhaust stroke of the piston, orthe last half of the second revolution of the cylinder, the exhaust ports being in full register during approximately one-half of the exhaust stroke or during a movement of the cylinder axis substantially between the radial lines ab (Fig. 21). It will of course be understood that at the time an explosion takes place in a cylinder the set of sparking pointsor electrodes 52 for such cylinder, an electrode 53 of the rotary valve and the stationary electrode 54: in the housing will have moved into register, as indicated in Figs. 1, 21 and 22.

In the modified form of the motorillustrated in Figs. 15 to 20, and 81 designate the opposite sides of the housing, the side 81 being formed around its peripheral portion with an inwardly opening exhaust passage 82 and having a laterally projecting flange 83, which is fixedly secured in any suitable .manner tothe outer edge of the side 80.

The rotor is provided with an internal crank-chamber 84, and hasits cylinders 85 radiating therefrom in equidistantly spaced relation. The hub portion of the rotor at one side of the crank chamber 84: is loosely journaled on a stationary shaft 86, which is fixed in a housing-bearing 87, while the opposite hub portion of the rotor is provided with an outwardly projecting trunnion part 88, which journals-in a bearing 89 in the adjacent housing side. The motor shaft 90 is fixed to this latter side of the rotor hub and projects outwardly through the housing bearing. The pistons 91 in the cylinders are connected in any suitable manner by piston-rods 92 to a common crank 93, said crank being stationary relative to the housing and having an arm which is fixed to the inner end of the stationary shaft 86 and an arm provided with a trunnion 94:, which is loosely journaled in an axial bearing in the adjacent hub side of the rotor. Fixed, in the present instance, to the rotor, circumferentially thereof, is a ring 95, which closes the outer ends of the cylinders 85,- except for the cylinder port 96 provided therein for each cylinder. The ring performs the same function in this form of the motor as the ring 28 in the preferred form of the motor.

The rotary valve, which is designated -97, is of annular form and is mounted on the rotor-ring 95 for free rotation relative there to. This valve fits closely between the rotor-ring 95 and the peripheral flange 83 of the housing in a manner to permit it to freely rotate relative to both the rotor and housing, closing communication between the portions of the housing chamber at opposite sides of the rotor. The left hand side of the housing chamber forms a gas distribut ing chamber for the motor, gas suitable for use within the motor being admitted thereto, as through a pipe 99. Fan plates 10.0 on the adjacent side of the rotor serve as a pump to force the gas outwardly toward the peripheral portion of the distributing chamber when the engine is running.

The valve 97 is provided at the distributing chamber side thereof, in the present instance, with three equidistantly spaced inlet ports or passages 101, which open communication between said chamber and the cylinder ports 96 in thering 95 when a cylinder is receiving its charge, the registering portions of the ports 96 and 101 being so proportioned that they will remain in communication during approximately one-half 'of a revolution of the rotor, or preferably during the complete suction stroke of the associated piston (Fig. 18). The inlet ends of the valve ports 101 are preferably extended in the direction of rotation of the rotor, as shown in Fig. 18, and an annular series of stationary fins 102', which are fixed to the inner side of the housing side 80, assist in directing the gas into the passage 101 during a running of the motor.

The valve 97 is provided in the exhaust side thereof with three equidistantly spaced exhaustports or passages 103, which have their outlet ends opening into the exhaust passage 82 in the housing in a direction re. verse to the direction of rotation of the ro-- tor, as indicated in Fig. 18, whereby the movement of the rotor facilitates the ex-- haust. The exhaust ports 103 are so disposed that one of such ports moves into 'and remains in register with a cylinder port 96 during approximately the entire exhaust stroke of the piston in such cylinder.

Three electrodes 104 are insulatingly car ried within openings 98 in the valve 97 in 'equidistantly spaced relation and in suitable relation to the inlet and exhaust ports thereof to secure an explosion within each cylinder at a predetermined point in each cycle thereof, as illustrated in Fig. 19. An electrode 104 extends, in the present instance, across .each cylinder port 96 in the direction of rotation of the rotor and is of of Which is provided throughout its length with an inlet port 64 with which each of the exhaust ports 51 in the rotary valve registers during approximately one-half of its revolution. It is preferable to provide a series of spaced baffle blades or partitions 65 within the exhaust passage 63, for a desired distance therearound from the in-' let end thereof,'.-said bafile blades extending on an incline partly across the passage 63 from the inlet port 64 thereof. The incline of the baflie blades 65 is the reverse to the natural direction of flow of the exhaust gases through the exhaust passage 63, to tend to retard and baffle such exhaust and also to muffle it. The exhaust striking against the baffle blades will also tend to propel the rotor due to the resultant reaction.

The cooling system illustrated in connection with the preferred form of my motor will now be briefly described. The side 2 of the motor housing is provided in the inner side concentrically around the rotor axis with the two annular recesses or channels 66 and 67, the inner channel .66, in the present instance, having communication through an outwardly extending passage 68 with a suitable source of water supply, and the otherhaving an outlet passage, as .at 69, connected to any suitable drainage means. The inner side-of each of the passages 66 and ()7 is open and registers at a continually changing point therein, during a rotation of the rotor, with an inlet passage 70 provided in the hub disk 9 and in a radial extension 9 thereof for each cylinder, whereby each of said passages 70 is in continual register at its inner end with the supply passages 66 in the housing during a rotation of the rotor. Each passage 70 communicates at its outer end through a passage 71 in the base portion of the associated cylinder with a portion 72 of the water jacket space around the cylinder. The other channel 67 in the housing has continual communication with the other portion 73 of a cylinder water space through a passage 74 leading through a portion of the hub-disk 9 and the associated cylinder, as shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 7. The portring 28 is hollow, or has a passage 75 therein, between successive three-way ports 29, and each of such passages is provided at one end with an inlet port 76 and at its other end with an outlet port 77. The ports 76 and 77 are disposed at opposite ends of the interposed three-way ports 29 for the respective cylinders and register with ports 78 and 79, respectively, (Fig. 5) which communicate with the water jacket spaces 72 and 73, respectively, of a cylinder. It is thus evident that the circulation of water is from the supply channel 6 in the housing through the passages 7071 and into the portion 72 of the acket water space of a cylinder, thence outward from such portion into the associated channel of the port-ring 28 through the ports 7876, thence through the ring passage 75 in counter-clockwise direction, or in a direction opposed to the direction of rotation of such ring, thence passing from the opposite end of such passage through the port 77 and associated cylinder port 79 into the return water space 73 of the next cylinder in order, the water then passing from the space '73 of said cylinder into the drainage passage 67 of the housing. It is thus evident that the water first passes through a portion of one cylinder water jacket and thence through the portring 28 and the return portion of thewater jacket of the next cylinder in order before draining from the motor. The circulation of the-water in this manner is maintained by the fan action of the port-ring 28 thereon. This water circulating system is only briefly described, as no claim for the same is made herein, the subject matter thereof being reserved for a subsequent applica tion. It will'be evident that if it were not for the port-ring 28v forming a portion of the water circulating system for the cylinders that such ring could be made solid between the three-way ports 29.

The operation of the preferred form'of the motor is illustrated in a diagrammatical manner in Figs. 14, 20, 21 and 22. The explosions successively take place in alternate cylinders, as for instance, as indicated by the reference numerals 1. 2, 3, l, 5 applied to the cylinders in these figures. The motor being of. the four cycle type, each cylinder makes two revolutions during a cycle of operations, a charge being drawn into a cylin der during one-half and compressed therein during the next half of one revolution and the explosion taking place at the beginning of the first half of the second revolution, the Working stroke continu'ng throughout such first half of the second revolution and the exhaust taking place during approximately the entire remaining half of the second new olution. This action is best illustrated by reference to Figs. 21 and 22, the latter being illustrative of the first revolution of a cylinder, and the former illustrative of the second revolution of a cylinder during a cycle thereof. From Fig. 22 it will be noted that a valve inlet port 37 opens to a cylinder through the cylinder port approximately at the time the longitudinal center of. the cylinder has reached the point at which the explosion took place at the previous revolution, or at the beginning of the first revolution of a cycle of the cylinder at which position the piston is at its highest point. and that such ports remain in communication until the piston of such cylinder has completed its suction stroke, the ports being in full open register during substantially onethird of the stroke or approximately during a movement of the cylinder axis between the radial lines w-b. The charge is then compressed in the cylinder during the next out stroke of the piston. The explosion of the compressed charge occurs at approximately the point of completion of the first revolu tion of the cylinder, and the working stroke of the piston takes place during the entire first half of the second revolution of the cylinder. When the cylinder has completed the first half of its second revolution, the cylinder port will have caught up with an exhaust port 51in the valve, as noted at the bottom of Fig. 21. The exhaust then takes place throughout approximately the entire exhaust stroke of the piston, orthe last half of the second revolution of the cylinder, the exhaust ports being in full register during approximately one-half of the exhaust stroke or during a movement of the cylinder axis substantially between the radial lines ab (Fig. 21). It will of course be understood that at the time an explosion takes place in a cylinder the set of sparking points'or electrodes'52 for such cylinder, an electrode 53 of the rotary valve and the stationary electrode 54 in the housing will have moved into register, as indicated in Figs. 1, 21 and 22.

In the modified form of the motorillustrated in Figs. 15 to 20, 80 and 81 designate the opposite sides of the housing, the side 81 being formed around its peripheral portion with an inwardly opening exhaust passage 82 and having a laterally projecting flange 83, which is fixedly secured in any suitable manner tothe outer edge ofthe side 80. The rotor is provided with an internal crank-chamber 84c, and hasits cylinders 85 radiating therefrom in equidistantly spaced relation. The hub portion of the rotor at one side of the crank chamber 84 is looselyjournaled on a stationary shaft 86, which is fixed in ahousing-bearing 87,,while the opposite hub' portion of the rotor is provided with an outwardly projecting trunnionpart 88, which journalsin a bearing 89 in the adjacent housing side. The motor shaft 90 is fixed to this latter side of the rotor hub and projects outwardly through the housing bearing. The pistons 91 in the cylinders are connected in any suitable manner by piston-rods 92 to a common crank 93, said crank being stationary relative to the housing and having an arm which is fixed to the inner end of the stationary shaft 86 and an arm provided with a trunnion 94:, which is loosely journaled in an axial bearing in the adjacent hub side of the rotor. Fixed, in the present instance, to the rotor, circumferentially thereof, is a ring 95, which closes the outer ends of the cylinders 85,- except for the cylinder port 96 provided therein for each cylinder. The ring 95 performs the same function in this form of the motor as the ring 28 in the preferred form of the motor.

The rotary valve, which is designated 97, is of annular form and is mounted on the rotor-ring 95 for free rotation relative thereto. This valve fits closely between the rotor-ring 95 and the peripheral flange 83 of the housing in a manner to permit it to freely rotate relative to both the rotor and housing, closing communication between the portions of the housing chamber at opposite sides of the rotor. The left hand side of the housing chamber forms a gas distributing chamber for the motor, gas suitable for use within the motor being admitted thereto, as through a pipe 99. Fan plates 10.0 on the adjacent side of the rotor serve as a pump to force the gas outwardly toward the peripheral portion of the distributing chamber when the engine is running.

The valve 97 is provided at the distributing chamber side thereof, in the present instance, with three equidistantly spaced inlet ports or passages 101, which open communication between said chamber and the cylinder ports 96 in thering 95 when a cylinder is receiving its charge, the registering portions of the ports 96 and 101 being so proportioned that they will remain in communication during approximately one-half of a revolution of the rotor, or preferably during the complete suction stroke of the associated piston (Fig. 18). The inlet ends of the valve ports 101 are preferably extended in the direction of rotation of the rotor, as shown in Fig. 18, and an annular series of stationary fins 102', which are fixed to the inner side of the housing side 80, assist in directing the gas into the passage 101 during a running of the motor.

The valve 97 is provided in the exhaust side thereofwith three equidistantly spaced exhaust ports or passages 103, which have their outlet ends opening into the exhaust passage 82 in the housing in a direction re. verse to the direction of rotation of the rotor, as indicated in Fig. 18, whereby the.

movement of the rotor facilitates the ex-- haust. The exhaust ports 103' are so dis posed that one of such ports moves into and remains in register with acylinder port 96 during approximately the entire exhaust stroke of the piston in such cylinder.

Three electrodes 104 are insulatingly carried Within openings 98 in the valve 97 in equidistantly spaced relation and in suitable relation to the inlet and exhaust ports thereof to secure an explosion within each cylinder at a predetermined point in each cycle thereof, as illustrated in Fig. 19. An electrode 104 extends, in the present in stance, across .each cylinder port 96 in the direction of rotation of the rotor and is of sufficient length to remain in arcing register with the valve electrode 104: during a predetermined period of relative movements of the valve and rotor. The outer end of each valve electrode 10% is broadened in the direction of rotation of the valve, as at 105 (Fig. 19), to permit it to remain in arcing relation to the electrode of a stationary plug 105 during a predetermined period of rotation of the valve relative to the housing. The spark plug 105 is attached to the housing at the point where it is desired to have the explosions take place.

The rotary valve and rotor are connected. by a train of gears to communicate diiferential rotation from one to the other, the valve making five revolutions to each six revolutions of the rotor. The train of gears, in the present instance, is shown in Figs 15 and 16 as comprising the rotor gear 106, the annular internal valve gear 107 and the intermediate pinions 108, 109 and 110, the shafts of which fixedly project inwardly from the adjacent side of the housing.

The operation of this form of the motor is the Same in principle as that of the form first described, the rotation of the valve being so timed and its ports so proportioned that a charge is admitted to each cylinder during one in or suction stroke of its piston, is then compressed during the succeed ing out or compression stroke of the piston, and is then fired at the beginning of the succeeding power stroke of the piston, the exhaust taking place during approximately the complete exhaust stroke of the piston, as illustrated diagrammatically in Figs. 21 and 22. 7

By reference to Figs. 14, 19 and 20, which apply to both forms of the invention so far as the arrangement of ports and the action of the motor is concerned, and in which the same numbering of the cylinders is carried out with the cylinders at different points in their respective cycles, it will be noted that when an explosion occurs in cylinder No. 1 and during the power stroke of its piston, the piston in cylinder No. 2 is just finishing its power stroke, cylinder No' 3 is exhausting, cylinder No. 4 is taking in its charge and cylinder No. 5 is compressing. When cylinder No. 1 has reached the end of its power stroke it then opens to the exhaust (Fig. 20), cylinder No. 2 is just completing its exhaust stroke, cylinder No. 3 is taking in its charge, cylinder No. 4 is compressing, and cylinder No. 5 has started on its power stroke. By reference to Fig. 14 it Will be noted that when cylinder No. 1 has made approximately one-half of its power stroke, cylinder No. 2 will be exhausting, both cylinders Nos. 3 and 4 will be taking in charges, and cylinder No. 5 will be compressing.

It is evident that a motor of the class described will permit the exhaust of all burnt gases from a cylinder before a charge is ad mitted, thereby very materially enhancing the efficiency of the motor over motors of the explosive type heretofore used, and also that a motor embodying my'invention will be very greatly reduced in weight over other explosive engines having the same number, or even a lesser number, of cylinders. It will, of course, be understood that the two forms of my invention shown herein are merely illustrative of the invention and that such invention is not restricted to any particular construction and arrangement of the parts or to the number of cylinders employed, as numerous modifications and changes may be made within the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,-

1. In a rotary engine, a rotor having a cylinder provided with a fluid inlet port, a rotary valve concentric to said rotor, said valve having means for taking furl in at its center and discharging it without its center into the cylinder port periodically during a running of the engine, and means actuated by a running of the motor for driving said valve at a speed which is differential to the speed of rotation of the rotor.

2. In a rotary engine, a rotor having a cylinder provided with an inlet port, a rotary member operable to control the periodi' cal admission of fluid to the cylinder through said port and having means enabling it to act by its rotation as a pump for forcing fluid into the cylinder, and means operable during a running of the motor to rotate said member at a speed which bears a predetermined ratio to the speed of rotation of the rotor.

3. The combination with a rotary motor having a revoluble cylinder provided with an inlet port, of a rotary element serving as a valve for periodically opening said port to the source of fluid supply and having means for forcing fluid into the cylinder through its port.

1. In an internal combustion engine, the

combination with a rotor having a cylinder provided with an inlet port, of rotatable means operable during a running of the engine to periodically open the inlet port of the cylinder and having means to pump a charge therein. 5. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with a rotor having a cylinder provided with a charge inlet port, of a valve rotatable concentrically and differentially relative to the rotor during'a running thereof and operable to periodically open said charge port and having means to pump a charge therein.

6. In an internal combustion engine, the 

